N. C. GAMBILL, JR., was born May 28, 1846, in Tennessee, son of N. C. and Minerva (Phillips) Gambill, both natives of this state.  The father was born in 1812 and was a tiller of the soil; his death occurred in 1861.  The mother was born in 1815 and died in 1866 or 1867.  Our subject remained on the farm with his parents until their death.  He then began farming for himself in 1867, and has successfully continued that occupation up to the present date.  November 29, 1866, he wedded Nancy L. Ladd, of Williamson County.  The result of this union was five children:  Sallie J., Jesse C., James B., Nannie E., and one who died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Gambill are leading members in the Christian Church, and Mr. Gambill is a Master Mason.  His education was rather limited, but he has always manifested a willingness to aid in any or all enterprises pertaining to the advancement of education.  He is a Democrat in politics and a strong temperance man and an advocate of Christianity in all its phases, sects and denominations.
 

THOMAS J. GAMBILL, an excellent farmer and the son of Bradley and Sarah C. (Anderson) Gambill, whose sketch appears above in this volume, was born December 14, 1852.  He assisted his parents on the farm secured a fair practical education in the district schools.  In 1874 he began to fight life's battles for himself as a farmer.  In 1877 he led to the altar Lucy Templeton, daughter of Newton Templeton, and the fruit of this union was an interesting family of four children:  Minnie E., Marvin E., Joshua Cleveland and Newton E.  Mr. Gambill is one of the enterprising and successful citizens of the Twenty-third District.  He has a farm well watered and in a fine state of cultivation in Coffee County, and an interest in a tract in this county.  He and wife are exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
 

JOHN A. GANNAWAY was born in Tennessee May 17, 1824, son of John and Mary W. (Robertson) Gannaway, of Virginia.  The father was born in 1788, married in 1811 and came to Tennessee in 1814.  He was a farmer and mechanic, and died July 12, 1851.  Our subject's ancestors on both sides were from England.  He was the fifth of eleven children and resided with this parents on the farm until twenty years of age.  He then became overseer of a cotton factory at Murfreesboro, and worked the first year for $50, the second for $100, the third for $200.  At the expiration of this time he started to school, attending about five months.  He clerked for a short time in Murfreesboro, and then sold goods for A. J. Wood.  He then began traveling for a saddle and dry goods firm, continuing five years, and then began the mercantile business at Wartrace, Tenn., with a very small capital.  At the end of eight years he has accumulated considerable money and in the fall of 1858 sold out and purchased a farm near Bell Buckle, which he managed about seven years.  Since the war he has been postmaster of Unionville, and was a merchant of that lace for some time.  In 1877 he retired from active business life.  September 14, 1853, he married M. R. Tarpley, of Bedford County, and daughter of Edward Tarpley; she was born October 25, 1832, and has borne her husband twelve children: Emma D., Maggie E., John E., James W., Josephus, Nannie R., Mary C., Elijah T., Cora L., Clarence E., Horace B. C. and Cornelius V.   Mr. Gannaway was elected magistrate of his district November 8, 1870, and held the office about six years.  He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
 

R. C. GARRETT was born February 11, 1844, in Bedford County, and is the son or Darington and Nancy (Gentry) Garrett, both natives of Tennessee, and both died when our subject was quite small.  R. C. Garrett, our subject, enlisted in the Confederate Army in the fall of 1862.  He entered as Gen. Forrest's escort, and sustained this relation to the army throughout the entire war.  He was wounded in the right arm just above the elbow during the battle of Chickamauga, which disabled him from active duty for about six months.  He was again wounded at Plantersville, Ala., was hit by a spent ball on the left jaw, but this disabled him for only a short time.  At the close of the war he came home and began tilling the soil on the farm where he is now living.  November 30, 1865, he led to the altar Martha L. Jackson, of this county.  She was the daughter of John and Rebecca (Lytle) Jackson, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Virginia, and of Irish and English lineage.  To Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were born ten children:  Ella N., William T., John J., Robert C., Robecca G., Lizzie L., Fannie C., Darlington J., Fane S. and the tenth, a daughter, died unnamed.  Mr. Garrett received rather a limited education, but enough for all practical purposes.  He is a Democrat in politics, and Mrs. Garrett is a member of the Baptist Church.
 

L. T. GAUNT was born March 15, 1852, in this State, son of Lewis and Mary. S (Shearen) Gaunt, both natives of Tennessee.  The father was born December 28, 1803, and died February 20, 1860.  The mother was born May 2, 1816, and died in 1873.  Our subject assisted his mother on the farm and received a rather limited education in the common schools.  At the age of seventeen he began farming on his own responsibility and continued this occupation until the fall of 1884.  September 29, 1869, be wedded Margaret M. E. Stallings, of this county, and by her became the father of six children:  Mollie E., Mattie E., James L., John T., Joe U. and Dan S.  In 1882 Mr. Gaunt was elected constable in the Eighteenth District, and served two years.  In 1884 he was appointed deputy sheriff under the present sheriff, which position he now holds. In 1885 he engaged in the merchandise business at this place, and is at present engaged in that occupation.  In the fall of 1885 he was appointed United States deputy marshal which office he now holds.  He is a Democrat in politics.
 

JOHN J. GILL, farmer and stock raiser, was born May 26, 1841, and is one of five children born to the union of Winston W. and Sarah A. (Whitaker) Gill. The father was born in Kentucky March 10, 1809.  In 1831 or 1832 he immigrated to Tennessee and settled in Lincoln County.  He was for the greater part of his life a merchant, and sold goods at Gill's Store.  In 1840 he was married, and became the father of these children:  John J., Mary R., Martha C., Sallie J. and Winston W.  Martha Gill died in 1851;  Sallie J., in 1860, and Winston W ., In 1878.  In 1846 our subject's father moved to this county and bought a tract of land in the Twenty-second District.  Mrs. Gill died in 1865, and Mr. Gill married a Miss Moore, and after her death he married a Miss Wiley, of Alabama.  The Gill family were originally from Maryland, and are of English descent.  Our subject was born in Lincoln County, and was given an education in the county schools.  In 1870 he was married to Miss Susan S. Riggs, a native of Maury County and a daughter of Adam S. Riggs.  To this union were born two children:  Sallie R. and Winston W.  Sallie R. died in 1874, and Winston W. February 11, 1879.  Mr. Gill owns one of the finest farms of Bedford County.  It contains 650 acres lying five miles south of Shelbyville. He is .president of the agricultural society of Bedford County.
 

J. S. GILLIS, a leading merchant and enterprising citizen of Shelbyville, was born April 12, 1840, in New York State.  He was the younger of two children born to the marriage of James Gillis and Isabella Stalker, natives of Scotland.  His parents removed to Canada from New York, and he was reared there, receiving a common school education.  In 1859 he went to Trenton, Ky., and engaged in the pursuit of farming till 1871.  He then removed to Shelbyville and opened his merchandising establishment, which he has continued very successfully.  He now carries a stock of about $20,000 and does an annual business of about $35,000 to $40,000.  He was married September 25, 1864, to Eliza Bradley, the result of this union is one son - George D.  Mr. Gillis is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday schools for about twelve years.  His wife is also a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.  Mr. Gillis is of old-line Whig ancestry, but he is now a Democrat.  He is one of the leading citizens of Shelbyville, and bears the highest esteem of his fellow citizens.
 

RICHARD D. GORDON was born February 8, 1834, and is the son of Dr. William J. and Louisa B. (Hix) Gordon.  The father of our subject was born in North Carolina February 16, 1813, and when a young man immigrated to Tennessee and settled in Bedford County.  He received his medical education at the medical school of Gainsville, Ala., and began the practice of his profession in Bedford County.  He was very successful as a physician, and won distinction in the county where he resided.  In 1846 he was married to Miss Louisa B. Hix, and to this union were born four children: Dosia, Richard D., and two who died in infancy that were not named.  Dr. Gordon died at his home in Bedford County August 20, 1875, beloved by all.  Our subject had the advantage of a good practical education in his native county.  In 1875 he was married to Miss Callie Burrow, and five children blessed this union:  Euphus A., William F., Clawson R., Albert P. and Anna B., all living.  Mr. Gordon has made farming a success.  He owns 160 acres of land in the Twenty-third District, and is esteemed by all his acquaintances.
 

SAMUEL B. GORDON, one of Bedford County's old and respected citizens, was born February 14, 1813, in Bedford County.  He is one of seven children, the fruits of the marriage of David Gordon and Mary Reynolds, natives of South Carolina.  The parents came to this county about 1809 and the father followed farming all his life.  He died when Samuel B. was quite small.  The mother died in 1836; she was a member of the Presbyterian Church.  Mr. Gordon, our subject, was reared on a farm and secured a common school education.  At the age of twenty-three he married and settled to farming four miles east of Shelbyville.  He afterward moved to Flat Creek, in this county, and lived there eighteen years; thence he moved to where he now lives.  He owns about 190 acres of fine land, having been successful as a lifetime farmer.  He was married, October 20, 1835, to Amelia Eules, a native of this county, born in 1817.  Twelve children have been born to this union, all of whom have lived to be grown, but four of whom have since died, viz.:  Mary C. (wife of Thomas Hutton, a farmer of Marshall County); George W. (deceased); Harriet E. (wife of J. R. Burrow, a farmer of this county); Adam E. (deceased); Amzi C. (deceased); William J., a labor superintendent in Alabama; Mitchell S., a merchant in Texas; Martin L. (deceased); John A., a States district attorney in Texas; Samuel B., Jr.; Margaret E. and Amelia E. (wife of G. S. Sanders).  Mr. Gordon, his wife and several of the family are members of the Lutheran Church.  He is a Master Mason in Blue Lodge Masonry, and a Republican in politics.  He was trustee of Bedford County for about three terms about the close of the war.
 

JAMES B. GREEN, of the firm of Green & McGill, dealers in groceries and provisions, was born in Bedford County, Tenn., January 20, 1856, being a son of Blount G. and Salina F. (Stewart) Green.  Blount G. Green was born October 14, 1815.  His father, William Green, came to Bedford County in 1808 with his parents.  William Green was married in 1811 to Miss Sarah Phillips.  Blount G. has always been a farmer and has been very successful, now owning 1,121 acres of land in Bedford County.  He was married, in 1841, to Miss Salina F. Stewart, the result of this union being eleven children, viz.: Canzada P., Mary E., Nancy C., Susan C. E., Emily J., Lewis D., Samuel E., James B., Harriet F., Tennessee A. and Thomas B.  Three of the family have died, viz. : Canzada P., Thomas B. and Emily J.  Mr. Blount Green is one of the prominent farmers of the county, and has been identified with the public offices of the county.  James B. was reared on a farm and secured a common school education.  At the age of twenty-one he began farming for himself, and continued till 1881, when he engaged at clerking in a grocery store for a short time. He then went back to farming.  In December, 1885, he began his present occupation, and has since done a good business in the grocery line.  He was married, May 10, 1883, to Mrs. Tennie (McGill) Gallaher, daughter of W. M. McGill, Esq., of this county.  The wife is the mother of one child, Mary Gallagher, by her former marriage, and has borne two children to her union with Mr. Green, viz.: Jessie B. and James F.  Mr. Green and wife are members of the Christian Church. He takes no very active interest in political affairs, but is an energetic and respected business man.
 

B. T. GREGORY, the photographer of Shelbyville, was born August 17, 1847, in Shelbyville, being one of a family born to the union of Joseph P. Gregory and Elivira Jones, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Alabama.  Joseph P. was brought to Bedford County when young by his father, Thomas Gregory.  He was a dentist by profession.  He practiced his profession in Shelbyville, and thence removed to Stevenson, Ala., which place he named in honor of V. K. Stevenson, a prominent railroad man.  He (the father) returned to Shelbyville, where he died in 1881.  The mother died at Stevenson, Ala., when our subject was young.  B. T. received a common school education.  At the age of twenty-two he started out in life for himself, having learned and practiced dentistry prior to this time.  He then learned the photographer's art, and has ever since been engaged in that art.  He permanently located in Shelbyville in 1876, since which time he has done a good business in his line.  He was married, December 26, 1881, to Miss Annie Calhoun, daughter of N. J. and Elizabeth Calhoun.  Her father was a stone-cutter and marble dealer.  One son has been born to this marriage -- Benjamin T.  Mr. Gregory is a Democrat in politics.  He and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
 

JOHN H. GRIDER was born December 27, 1844, in Jackson County, Ala.  His father, Ananias A. Grider, was born in Putnam County, Tenn., in 1812.  He married Miss G. Bullington, a native of the same county.  To this union seven children were born, our subject being the fifth.  Ananias A. Grider died August, 1856, and his wife died in the same month.  Our subject was educated in the country schools of his native county.  In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, and served with this command up to and including the battle of Chickamauga.  During this time he never was absent from his command a single day.  The principal battles were Wild Cat Mountain, Fishing Creek, Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga.  At the latter place be was captured and taken to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, Ill., where he remained until March 23, 1865.  He was then taken to Point Lookout, Md., where he took the oath of allegiance, was released and returned home.  He then worked two years on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, and ever since then has followed farming in Bedford County, where he now resides.  On July 1, 1866, he married Mrs. Sarah J. Mooney, and to this union were born five children.  Mr. Grider owns a farm of 135 acres in District No. 3, and he and wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.